Thursday, May 23, 2019

Green Building Technology Essay

1. Introduction Would at that place be a technology that can welfargon nature and kind-hearted beings at the same time? Conventional belief over the workout of technology is that nature is sacrificed and used up for the sake of human beings. However, technology is not simply about efficiency anymore, and its associated grounds are expanding. Concern over environment is integrity of the approximately prominent sensations, and Green mental synthesis technology falls under it. Green structure technology aims to create environmentally responsible structures or hovictimizations throughout its life span, opus using the picks available efficiently. It involves the whole process of building certain structure, covering the processes of design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction (EPA).In short, it is construction technology that tries to optimize environmental sustainability and efficiency while not giving up the necessary qualities of living spaces . Idea of Green building arose as OPEC oil embargo occurred in year 1973 with an Initial terminus of reducing its fossil fuel usage. This being a motive, hike researches was done by different groups and jet plane building came into housing trend (Marble Institute) After that, in that location had been increased attention and development of unfledgedness building technology. People are more interested in looking for environmentally friendly housings and galore(postnominal) governments are promoting it through different kinds of green construction standards. Yet, is this technology authoritatively giving us corporeal benefit in our mundane lives? What kind of benefits, in specific, is it providing? What would be the processes of achieving much(prenominal) impacts?Even though this technology does not take a crap a long history, it is already causing changes in reducing life force and resource usages economic and social benefits are in set up too. Green building has substan tial positive degree effect in both environment and economy, with potential for give outcomes in the future. This can be supported by numerous facts and application of technology. Specific applications of check overling zippo usage contributes to outright reducing of resources used in construction, which in bigger ground, leads to overall change of human caller.2. Functions in Resource Conservation2.1 Background The need to conserve natural resources arose from several natural changes in climate. First major change was the global increase of temperature, which in addition caused devastating natural disasters.(Figure 1)For example, this diagram from NASAs investigation implies that until the point of 1990s, at least in that respect were be starting time-zero global temperature anomaly. But it has exceeded the point of 0 degrees Celsius since then, reaching uplifteder points. This caused problems like shifting natural feature articles for some countries (i.e. viewing more tropical climate, while the area doesnt fall under tropical area) and extreme weathers like heating waves leading to hundreds of casualties (IPCC). Stanford researchers predicts summers go away spare getting hotter for the next 20 years (Rust,2011)Additional problems of luxuriously energy dependencies and its consequences are not negligible too. Oil prices have doubled since 10 years ago with annual increase of 25% between 2004 and 2008 (Bauer, 2010). For countries who signification their energy resources, reducing the energy usage and save money is a big concern. High dependency in energy usage often causes crisis in some special crisis situations. It could be financial, political, or literally natural disaster. While so, housing alone tamps up major portion of total energy usage. consort to United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it accounted for 38.9 share of total U.S. energy pulmonary tuberculosis in 2005. In year 2006 it took 72 percent of total U.S. elec trical energy consumption and this number will rise to 75% by 2025. So it can be seen how change in managing housings can lead to positive changes (EPA). Green building technology tackles against these problems with many different technologies, adopting them appropriately for each aspects of energy conservation. While so, 2 examples that directly fight against specific aspects are brought up here.2.2 Heat ControlFirstly, it has been said that the heating and cooling process of a household heavily uses electricity and causes substantial cytosine emission. Following are statistics give tongue to by EPA The average household spends at least $2,000 a year on energy bills over half of which goes to heating and cooling. Out of the total energy consumption in an average household, 50% goes to space heating, 27% to run appliances, 19% to heat water and 4% goes to air conditioning.The numbers are self-explanatory heating and cooling alone is a big part of whole energy consumption. Tempe rature control technology for green building enables reducing such consumption and carbon emission. During summer the sun light directly tapes through houses through windows or hits the surfaces of outer building and heats up the whole construction. Four factors affect heat accumulation in a home solar heat gain, internal heat gain, air leakage, and temperature difference. To solve these problems, approaches such as using shades, changing intensity of outer building, change of roof structure, reducing internal heat gene military rank sources (ex. Electronic equipment), and better use of spaces for air ventilation are used. Todays buildings also use machine controlled ventilation system or, manual adjustment of ventilation openings to control the heat (Bauer, 2010).On the new(prenominal) hand, during winter it is important to keep and gain every possible heat. A simple method like building the houses facing towards south or optimizing use of sunlight would be the most well-known (a) methods. Additionally, methods of loading up the heat into the building are also used, which is using methods like using atria or double faade- dual dimensioned surfaces like windows or surround surfaces- which can support the heat insulation by 20% (Bauer, 2010). As a particular example, window scenes are proven to be effective in solar radiation cut, reducing the heat level get into a house. The benefit of windows films is clear it reflects the sun radiation that causes heat and let the room keep cool with less efforts, in terms of both cost and energy usage. This means less air conditioning is used and less energy is consumed.It is proposed by Solar Gard, that Not only do Solar Gards architectural solar control window films help cut energy expenditures by up to 30%, its Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) scientifically proves that Solar Gard and Panorama solar control window films have a net positive environmental impact worldwide (Solar Gard).These are specific effec ts of window film proposed by them1. One square meter of a low-e wood window, the type with the smallest carbon footprint, has a carbon cost of 253 kilograms. The carbon cost of Solar Gard window film is less than one kilogram per square meter. 2. Solar Gard window film saves 1001 times more GHG emissions from entering the ambience than is used and/or created during its manufacture. 3. Solar Gard window film installed between 2007 and 2008 saved 3.6 million tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere this is equivalent to the carbon output of 16,350 American families (with four people).This particular products such effects can be expected from other window films too. In short, all these heat controlling technologies serve to reduce the electricity usage with additional energy conserving effects of reduced carbon emissions.2.3 Emission Control utterance of carbon emissions, there are specific uses of materials that combats them. In United States, housing alone takes 38 percent of the to tal carbon dioxide emissions (EPA). Carbon dioxide emission is one of the well-known factors that are blamed for the global heat. The famous Kyoto Protocol was established in order to limit this and also to achieve better results with global warming around the world. Choice of materials for constructions is thus carefully chosen from the planning stage, since once used in the process of construction, it is hard to replace them afterwards.Different sorts of materials has different add up of carbon emissions, and in green building that is considered as major criteria. Other aspects of renewability and sustainability are also considered carefully when material is picked. One specific example of such effort would be use of wood for floorings. Wood has its advantage as a building material from its characteristics of low collective energy, low carbon impact, low pollution emission, and sustainability. Low embodied energy means it takes less efforts and resources in order to get it. Woo d, since it has minimal energy processing during harvesting, has relatively lower embodied energy than those like steels, concrete, aluminum, p extremeic.In terms of carbon impact, it has lower carbon emission than most of other construction materials. Compared to other artificial or admixture types or materials, it shows significantly lower level of carbon emission just as shown in figure 2.Figure 2 Basically, this is the most important characteristic of wood usage for green building, and it is listed as the followings in the website of The Solid Wood Flooring Company* For every tonne of CO2 a tree absorbs from the atmosphere nearly of a tonne of oxygen is produced * Over 83% of the timber supplied in the UK is certified to be sustainable * Using wood instead of other building materials saves an average of 0.9 tonnes of CO2 per cubic metre. * An EUR wooden pallet stores around 29kg of CO2 taken from the atmosphere during the growth of the tree While metals and other fossil-based materials are not renewable resources, wood can be maintained forever if carefully used. It has to be accompanied by careful forestry planning, but it is definitely one resource that can be continuously re-grown.3. Impacts3.1 Social ImpactsWith all the features that efficiently use the natural energy and resources, green building technology also supports upbeat of tenants in the buildings. It typically contributes to improve employees and students health, comfort and productivity.Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)one of the criteria of the U.S Green Building Councils LEED-H rating systemevaluates the subtle neck that influences peoples status of mind and body in a space. It has been scientifically proven by related study that people tend to be more productive and contribute better performance in environment with better ventilation and proper temperature control (Abdou, 2006).Figure 3 Just as shown in figure 3, improved working or living condition leads to better work performances. The study sponsored in part by commercial real estate giant Cushman & Wakefield, reported 30 percent fewer sick days among one companys employees, and discovered a 10 percent increase in net revenue per employee in another company, after each office moved to LEED-certified buildings. Schools operating in green buildings also manifest higher test scores and heightened academic enthusiasm among students (Abdou, 2006)Plus, nature friendly methods and materials used in green buildings proved to ease sicknesses that could occur in daily lives of tenants. It is believed to contribute widely to respiratory problems, allergies, nausea, headaches, and skin rashes. With much emphasis on ventilation, non-toxic, low emitting materials and cutting use of air conditioning, green buildings indeed create fitter and more comfortable living environments, which keep people away from Sick Building Syndromes (Fisk, 2002).In summary, all these benefits retrieved from applying green building technology can lead to wholesome social benefit of people, by promoting health initiatives and pleasurable living spaces. Hence it further goes on to the bigger racing shell of expanding economic ground, by improving productivity and economic activity of the users of this technology.3.2 Economic ImpactsGreen buildings are so much more cost effective compared to conventional buildings. According to the USGBCs LEED rating system, green buildings tend to be 25-30% more energy efficient and more likely to generate the renewable resource on-site. Due to its cost effectiveness, energy saving and easy maintenance, green buildings outperform non-green buildings in the resale commercialise. Basically a newlyconstructed green building will perform 10.9% better than its original construction value. future buyers who realize the utility and maintenance cost and are more concerned about the sustainable design of the building will be attracted towards it. Though there is a common science that green bui ldings cost a heavy premium over normal buildings, the cost of green design has dropped in the last few years as the number of green buildings has risen. Hence buildings both residential and commercial with sustainable design component continue retaining a high property value in the retailing market (McGraw Hill Construction, 2010).By continuing to grow in different ground of constructions from the usual ones, green building technology is opening new opportunities for more economic activities with its prospects. As consumers and suppliers become more interested in such technology, it carries much potential for better outcomes.4. next ProspectsThen would these outcomes continue to exist in the upcoming future too? Green building is getting on the line of popularity within the general popular who are becoming more aware of environmental conservation. Governments are back up it with various policies and incentives with brandings. It does seem like there are some positive prospects f or green building technology to continue to grow in the future. There are supple amounts of factors encouraging such potentials.Regarding the future upcoming green building designs, buildings such as Zero-Energy Buildings are being explored. Zero-energy building (ZEB) is the designation given to buildings that have zero net energy consumption and zero carbon emissions annually. These buildings harvest energy produced on-site to meet their own energy needs. In addition to this, ideas of green schools are also being developed. Certified Green Schools are growing apace as part the LEED System. This trend will accelerate as understanding of the health and educational benefits of green schools grow (Yudelson, 2010).On the other hand, research efforts for further protection of environment are encouraging the future growth too. Awareness of the coming global crisis in fresh water supply leads building designers and managers to take further steps to reduce water consumption to increase sus tainability. This will be done in buildings through the use of more conservation-oriented fixtures, rainwater retrieval systems and innovative new water technologies. Lifecycle Analysis (LCA) examines the impact of materials and will allow architects to determine what products are more sustainable and what combination of products can produce the most environmentally friendly results (GEP, 2011).In 2011, the annual Image Power Global Green Brands Study polled more than 9,000 people in 8 countries (USA, UK, China, Brazil, India, Germany, France and Australia) to analyze consumers perception of green products. All participating countries, either developed or developing, indicated that they were quite willing to open up their wallets and pay a bit more for green options in real estate. Most of the informants showed great interest to the green buildings. To be precise, 60% of the surveyed consumers globally intend to extend their green choices more and more to items in the real estate, e nergy and technology sectors (Longsworth, 2011).By 2013 overall global green building market, both residential and commercial, may more than double in its scale from approximately $36-$49 billion to $96-$140 billion. When looking solely at the commercial and institutional real estate development markets, the green building market is projected to grow from its current occupation of 10-12% of the market to 20-25% (GreenBuildings.com). The future market trends are predicted to continue to grow with certain incentives and initiatives. One of them would be green building technology being encouraged to be used in government sectors.Government offices will need to be transformed into green buildings because of regulatory requirements in many countries. Such need will be the key growth area for green building market. Cash incentives for developers will play a major role in this too. Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan have developed strong support system and incentives for green build ing developers, designers and owners. Seeing benefits from such incentives, more experts will enter into green building area, stimulating its growth (Frost&Sullivan, 2009). 5. ConclusionGreen building, regardless its short history, has achieved a lot in a short term. Its variety of technologies gave rise of new solutions for using less energy yet enjoying more nature friendly benefits, and as it get popular, economic and social benefits arose. Specific technologies that have been discussed were temperature control technologies and choice of building materials. Such direct outcomes lead green buildings positive impacts to be applied on overall human society and economy.From the current outcomes of green building technology and its rising popularity, it seems to have good prospects for the future growth too. There are different factors of future designs and economic incentives encouraging this trend, and so further growth followed by more positive impacts can be expected. These all co nsequently support the idea green building has substantial positive effect in both environment and economy, with potential for even better outcomes in the future.Still, there are problems and limitations of green building technology that we have to consider about for the moment. It is a new born technology and yet to be fully developed. Hence full green buildings that incorporate much of the technology are prone to be accused for its high costs as mentioned before and also its insufficient development of efficiency are often pointed at as something unworthy of further developments. Nevertheless, its future potentials cannot be abandoned simply because of its current limitations. Since the initial goal of green building is to reduce human use of natural resources and promote sustainability, current green building technology should be pushed on for further developments that can solve problems at the moment and so forrard move on to achieve its goal in an even better way. Besides, its potentials are sufficient to predict better efficiency and profound benefits for our society.Hence green building technology should be acknowledged for its supportive impacts on environment not only for the current moment, but also for the upcoming future that will aid human beings to continue to live on without exhausting the natural resources.

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